Friday, January 19, 2018

Spotify adds new visual layers to spoken word audio | UNLIMITED | CMU

Spotify has launched what it’s claiming is a “new multimedia format”, adding visuals to spoken word audio content. It’ll never catch on. Visuals? No one likes looking at things.

Called Spotlight, the feature will allow providers of podcasts, audiobooks, news and other talky stuff to layer photos, video and text over their chat. At launch, partners include BuzzFeed News, Lenny Letter, Gimlet Media, Genius and Refinery29. Spotify will also add additional visual bits to some of its own original programming too.

Says Spotify’s Head Of Studios And Video, Courtney Holt: “We are excited to launch Spotlight, a new format that merges great storytelling, news, information and opinion with visual elements all delivered in playlist form across a number of content categories. Playlists play an important role in the daily lives of our users bringing them closer to the creators they love”.

Buzzfeed News Editor-In-Chief Ben Smith adds: “It feels like a generation ago that MTV News delivered the latest to a whole generation of music fans, but it’s not hard to imagine BuzzFeed News and Spotify doing the same in 2018. We’re incredibly excited to bring together our award-winning audio team, world-class journalism, and Spotify’s massive, dynamic platform to get listeners up to speed every morning. I can’t wait to see this project get off the ground next week and grow along with the future of news”.